The tips of her fingers felt the coldness of Robin's skin and the unmistakable shiver.
The real sensation traveled through her fingertips—warm and familiar, carrying Seraphilia's unique, faint Cloud Mist scent.
Robin's hand trembled violently, then she instantly gripped back with surprising force, as if a drowning person had grasped the only piece of driftwood, terrified that if she let go, everything before her would turn into nothingness.
The two stood there by the stream as twilight gathered, stretching their shadows long. They held each other's hands tightly, neither speaking, just greedily savoring this real contact, regained after being lost. A thousand words were stuck in their chests, but they didn't know where to begin, as if any language felt superfluous.
Until—
"Guchu?"
A small, non-human sound, clearly conveying curiosity and delight, abruptly broke the heavy silence.
Robin was alerted, and her blue eyes immediately swept sharply toward Seraphilia's shoulder—the ball of white Cloud Mist that had been quietly resting there. At that moment, the Cloud Mist 'lifted' its front end, its screen area facing her, displaying a large, glittering Kaomoji:
✧ ⁺ ⸜ ( ● ˙ ▾ ˙ ● ) ⸝ ⁺ ✧ Hello there!
Robin: "!!?"
Her guard instantly rose, and that fragility was carefully retracted. What was this? A new type of Den Den Mushi? Or some creature used for surveillance or attack? She even thought of rumors about certain secret government weapons.
"Don't be afraid, Robin," Seraphilia quickly reassured her, gently patting the Cloud Mist on her shoulder, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness and doting affection. "This is Tanaka. I made it with my ability... well, it's kind of a mode of transport, and a partner. It means no harm, it's just a bit curious."
As if to confirm her words, Tanaka lightly floated up from Seraphilia's shoulder, hovering in front of Robin while maintaining a safe distance. The Kaomoji on its screen quickly changed:
( ´ ･ ω ･ ` ) Sorry for scaring you
( ◕ ᴗ ◕ ✿ ) I am Tanaka, Seraphilia's friend
（ づ ￣ 3 ￣ ） づ ╭ ♦ ～ I like you!
When the last Kaomoji appeared, Tanaka even carefully simulated the shape of a 'heart' and gently drifted towards Robin, as if genuinely expressing affection.
Robin's tense body slowly relaxed a bit, but her eyes were still filled with surprise and inquiry.
She looked at Tanaka, then at Seraphilia, seemingly confirming the truth of Seraphilia's words. Seraphilia nodded affirmatively, her eyes holding encouragement and a hint of mischievous smile.
After hesitating for a moment, Robin extended her slightly trembling fingers and, very slowly, with a hint of testing, touched the smooth, cool cloud surface of Tanaka. The texture was unexpectedly soft, carrying a marvelous quality that was hard to describe.
Tanaka immediately nuzzled her fingertips cheerfully. The entire cloud mass stretched out as if enjoying the closeness. The screen Kaomoji changed to one of excitement: ( ★ ω ★ ) / I was touched! Happy!
This direct yet wondrous way of interaction, the aura of the same origin as Seraphilia emanating from Tanaka, the fresh scent of Cloud Mist, and that... ineffable, warm emotional transmission, finally allowed Robin to completely drop her guard.
She withdrew her hand. The astonishment in her blue eyes had not faded, but a softness and curiosity had been added.
"It... can express emotions?" she asked softly, her gaze falling on the constantly changing Kaomoji, feeling that this thing was simply beyond the scope of her knowledge.
"Mm," Seraphilia pursed her lips somewhat sheepishly, watching Tanaka circle around Robin. "I tried to make it. It can't speak, but it understands what I mean, and it can express itself... well, in its own way." She paused, her tone becoming softer, yet carrying sincere candor, "It likes you a lot. Probably... because I was always thinking of you when I was making it."
The last sentence was very low, but Robin heard it clearly.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and a warm feeling she couldn't quite name welled up in her heart. She shifted her gaze away, looking back at Tanaka, trying to conceal her emotions.
Tanaka immediately flew a light circle around her, the screen continuously scrolling symbols like ( ● ´ ω ｀ ● ) ( ﾉ ◕ ヮ ◕ ) ﾉ *: ･ ﾟ ✧, like a child eager to please a new friend, or a lively pet.
Watching this scene, the fatigue from Seraphilia's days of rushing seemed to vanish, her heart filled with warmth.
She looked at Robin again, her gaze falling on her long bangs that almost covered her eyes, and frowned slightly: "Your hair... it's gotten this long again."
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